Game 18 Recap: Bulls 119, Rockets 116

Thinks I liked:It was nice to see the team bounce back with a spirited effort after two straight lopsided defeats. The Bulls shot 50 percent as a team, won the rebounding battle 49-37 (including 15-8 on the offensive glass), ran out for 18 fast break points, and scored 54 points in the paint.

It was very nice to see Carlos Boozer get into a flow on offense. Boozer scored 25 points by shooting 9-for-15 from the field and 7-for-10 from the line. He also grabbed 9 rebounds. In this game, Carlos looked like what management brought him in to be: A second scoring threat to compliment (and take pressure off of) Derrick Rose.

Speaking of Rose, it was great to see him get back to the near-MVP-level form he was playing at before Boozer made his debut. Derrick was definitely sub-par against the Magic and Celtics. I felt like he was too concerned about trying to get Boozer involved. Don’t get me wrong. As the team’s point guard and best player, it’s Rose’s job to set up his teammates…but not at the expense of his own aggressiveness.

Well, Rose was aggressive last night, finishing with game-highs in points (30), assists (11) and steals (5). And let’s not forget the clutch three-pointer that sent the game to overtime.

Regarding Derrick’s assist total: With Boozer in the lineup, Rose has more weapons than he’s ever had. I think we can expect him to keep racking up the assists on a consistent basis.

I was also glad to see Joakim Noah get back to being Joakim Noah. It wasn’t just his numbers — 13 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocked shots, a steal — he was just generally more active in pursuing rebounds and doing the dirty work than he was against Orlando and Boston.

For the second straight night, the Bulls were burned by an opposing power forward. On Friday, Kevin Garnett went off for 20 points and 17 rebounds. On Saturday, Luis Scola had 27 points (9-for-18 from the field and 9-for-12 from the line) and 8 rebounds.

Chicago committed 19 turnovers and gave up 36 free throw attempts.

The Bulls continue to give up big threes. Courtney Lee went 2-for-2 and Brad Miller drilled four treys. These terrible triples seem to come off slow or missed rotations.

Speaking of Big Brad, he blindsided the Bullies with 20 points off the Rockets bench. He scored 10 of those points in the fourth quarter, including an “And 1!” and two three-pointers. Fortunately, he bricked a free throw with 10 seconds left that limited Houston’s lead to three and setting up Rose’s heroics. Thanks, Brad.

23 Responses to Game 18 Recap: Bulls 119, Rockets 116

im glad someone had a good time watching this game, i didnt. though it was nice to see the boozington post moves,and his jumpshot is wetter than a sports illusrated swimsuit model

the article is right on point, way too many turnovers, and the defensive rotation are below avg, but i account that to the chemistry. they’re not there, yet. we seem to be scrambling too much and thats why tems are killing us with the 3’s.

also we can add another player we shouldnt inlclude in a melo trade, and thats taj, hes basically a baby boozer minus the cool beard.

Boozer has a reputation for being an offensive force and a defensive liability. Why are we surprized that the Bulls are allowing more points with him on the court? While Thibs is a master at coaching defense he is not a miracle worker. It will take time for Thibs to turn Boozer into a fair to good team defense contributor. But that will only happen if Booz wants it to happen. Imagine what it would be like with Booz and Melo on the floor together. They would be fighting over the “Ole” cape. I would not be surprized to see Booz on the bench in favor of Gibson at key times when the Bulls need defense.

They will be fine. They showed a good deal of shut-down defense on the road and that will rise up again. Bogans and particularly Brewer are both literally very strong guards and I don’t really care about Bogans on the offensive end, now that Boozer is here. Bogans is in a long line of defensive minded guards, who are streaky offensively. Sure, he should probably come off the bench, as Brewer is better defensively and much better on the fast-break/cutting to the basket. Then again, I love Brewer coming off the bench and helping to actively shut down their bench scoring. It is so much fun to see their squad come off the pine and try and find a rhythm with Brewer running mad all over the place.

i have a feeling pax/gar will need to be creative and make another key acquisition before the trade deadline…they’re in a tough position with Gibson…as good as he is, he essentially is another Boozer…he’s a good backup for Boozer, but at the same time, you wanna improve your other positions (SG)…anyway, i’m liking how rose stepped up vs. HOU…but we’re a buzzer-beater away from being a .500 team on a 3-game losing streak, with boozer in the lineup.

to c-lo ; your right gibson moves alot better, but thats because booz is like a tank out there, he doesnt look it, but when he moves you can see him lugging that 260 pound body

they should use him like they used cartwright back in the day, and push people off the blocks and away from their sweet spots, i think thats where he can be most affective on defense, and hes got quick hands too.

Booz dosent really set picks he kinda waits for the pg at the ark of he free throw line. Go figure. and also about derrick not getting to the line because of his quickness what do u (people in general) want him to do slow down?! how bout the ref just call the dang foul.

Booz just needs to find his rythem with the team ans whats they develop some chemistry they should be ok, thibs is a good coach. The Bulls however, play games and they look good. But on the other hand they play games which show us that they r not a threat to the elite teams. Booz was the best player available after the big 3 so can’t blame management for screwing up, they were aggressive in their pursuits of the big 3. we just got burnt… hope Boozer pans out to be a solid player for us… The Bulls are still in need of a true starting SG, and I believe we still need some front court help…

also of note on the negative side: i believe that Rose did not attempt a single free-throw on the night.

(the officiating, of late, has been … something.)

Comment by inkybreath

I was cussing at my monitor last night. Not because the Rockets wouldn’t go away, but because, as Stacey King put it, “[Derrick Rose] CANNOT GET A CALL!!!”. BTW, I started my counting of driving layup attempts last night, and I got 9 attempts with no foul calls. In the mean time, LeBron and Wade went to the bucket less than 20 times and shot a total of….19 FTs.

The point everyone is saying is the truth about D Rose not getting any calls he himself who never complains may need to take a fine or two to get the refs and to put them on notice of the fact that they have not been making calls they should make when he is fouled.Rose is a superstar and all of them execpt rose gets the calls for fouls all the time, its time the league stop hatin on the bulls and just call the game as it should be there it is I said it the league is hatin on the bulls every since M.J. left the bulls they have lost that right to have the game called fairly which is a shame it compromises the integerty of the game for all it stands for we already seen one ref get caught for cheating and gambling wonder how many moroe did or even more so are doing it. point made we as fansneed to speak up more too I am Putting LEAGUE on NOTICE MAKE THE RIGFHT CALLS FOR THE WHOLE GAME GIVE ROSE HISDUE RESPECT HAS ERNED ITANT NOT SAID A WORD> peace

Derrick’s problem is, and always will be, that he’s too strong. He goes to the rim so hard and with such strength that even when he’s hit, it doesn’t look like he is.

Shaq, for a lot of his career, has had the same problem in reverse. He’s so damn huge that he touches an opposing player, they go flying, he gets whistled. Any other center wouldn’t have had that called on them, but because Shaq weighs 330, his body does a lot more damage when it’s in motion.

Derrick is so strong that he’ll get bumped, whacked, jostled around, but he makes the lay-ups and doesn’t really show much effect from it.

Trade for Beasley? Why? What on earth would make you think we need another volume shooting forward? We already have 2 forwards who want the ball, plus Derrick Rose. Until you add another basketball to the game, we don’t need someone else who likes to shoot 20 or more shots per game.

I don’t know how you can look at teams like the Miami Heat and say “Gee, what we need to do is copy their approach. Let’s sign a whole bunch of volume shooters and trade away good role-players to do so!” When you look at good teams like the Celtics and the Spurs and the Lakers, what do you see? You see several stars and a whole bunch of good role-players who all contribute. That’s what you need. Paul Pierce is leading that team with 19 PPG. Ray Allen’s putting in less than 16. Look at the game logs: none of them are putting up 20 or more shots per night. They don’t need to. They play unselfishly and without regard for their personal stats. That’s why they’re so damn good. The last thing this Bulls team needs is another player who needs the ball in his mitts to be effective. It’s why I never wanted Carmelo and it’s why I don’t want Beasley.

What we need is a SG who can give us more than 5 per game. We don’t need someone to give us 20 or 30, but someone who could at least give us 10-13 a game would be great.

finally real talk we don’t need
mello not unless he is willing to become a defender plus not be a ball hog what the bulls need is time to grow together I think the team they have now can win a championship especially sense D Rose has become a superstar in all rights becuase of what he brings to the game and his team let us focus on a guard that can score that is what a shooting guard is suppose to do score we may want to see if we can get mayo from the grizz he would fit nicely with this team and he is a big time scorer plus he would not require the ball in his hands to do it always great compliment to Rose he would be solid in all phases of the game .Also he is in his last year of his contract grizz might let him go for lil or nothing we have some pieces to put up in a trade might intrest them.

WE NEED A FOWARD TO TAKE OVER DENGS SPOT, LIKE DENG BUT NOT IMPRESSED BY HIS SKILLS. WE NEED A BODY DOWN BELOW THAT WILL BATTLE AND DENG ISNT THE TYPE OF GUY WHO WILL BATTLE AND FIGHT HE IS TO WEAK. TRADE FOR BEASLY AND BRING IN A TRUE SG. WHY NOT CREATE A DOMINANT FRONT COURT WHERE OPOSING PLAYERS WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO DRIVE TO THE HOOP. GUYS REALITY CHECK TIME OK WE NEED A HARD NOSED TYPE OF PLAYER DOWN THIER WHO IS SCRAPPY AND WITH TIBS COACHING I THINK BEASLEY IS THAT TYPE OF GUY.